Duquette was managing director, global private equity at Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Lion Electric, manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, has named Francois Duquette, a lawyer admitted to the Quebec bar, into the newly created role of vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective Apr. 12.
Duquette previously worked for Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which he joined in November 2015 as vice-president, legal affairs, investment. He was then appointed as managing director, global private equity in December 2019, a position in which he co-led the company’s private equity direct investment strategy primarily in Europe and Asia Pacific and co-chaired the company’s international private equity and technology investment committees.
Duquette joined international firm Allen & Overy LLP in August 2007, where he served as partner focusing on mergers and acquisitions assigned to the Toronto, Abu Dhabi and Casablanca offices. For international firm Simmons & Simmons LLP, which he joined in August 1999, he practised in the Paris and Abu Dhabi offices.
Duquette has acted as solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. He earned his Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor degrees from McGill University.
In the news release dated Apr. 6, Marc Bédard, founder and chief executive officer of Lion Electric, welcomed Duquette to the company’s executive management team. In Duquette’s new role, he will report to Bédard, will oversee all areas of legal and regulatory affairs and will offer strategic advice to the company’s senior management team and board of directors.
“With over 20 years of international business experience, François’ expertise will be important in providing ongoing strategic advice and legal counsel to our team, as we are about to start a new chapter of our history as a public company,” said Bédard. “I look forward to his valuable contribution and insight as we continue to execute our plan of long-term, sustainable growth.”
Lion Electric seeks to manufacture zero-emission vehicles utilizing innovative and reliable technologies in an effort to advance significant improvements in the society, in the environment and in overall quality of life. The company builds and assembles its vehicles’ components, such as the chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.
